Paul Kitson, one of the more popular players from the Blast's indoor soccer glory days of the early 1980s, died yesterday morning in a Toronto hospital, one day after collapsing while coaching his youth soccer team. No cause of death was known, and an autopsy was scheduled, a Blast spokesman said last night. The spokesman also said Kitson had not had any known health problems recently. Kitson, 49, played on the 1983-84 Major Indoor Soccer League championship team and was known for the pet snake that he often had draped around his neck.

On June 29, 2005, DEAN D., SR., husband of Brenda Kitson and father of Dean D. Kitson, Jr. Friends may call at the family owned MARCH FUNERAL HOME EAST, 1101 East North Avenue on Friday after 2 P.M. where funeral services will take place on Saturday at 1:30 P.M. See www.marchfh.com

On June 29, 2005, DEAN D., SR., husband of Brenda Kitson and father of Dean D. Kitson, Jr.Friends may call at the family owned MARCH FUNERAL HOME EAST, 1101 East North Avenue on Friday after 2 P.M. where funeral services will take place on Saturday at 1:30 P.M. See www.marchfh.com

Paul Kitson, whom Blast fans may recall not only for his scoring prowess over three seasons in the 1980s, but also for the snake he sometimes draped around his neck, returns to Baltimore today as the Maryland Mania's new coach.Kitson succeeds Darryl Gee, who was fired Monday by the new, Columbia-based A-League team. Kitson will meet Mania players at practice this evening and be on the sidelines for the team's home-opener at 4 p.m. Sunday at UMBC Stadium against the Charleston (S.C.) Battery.

Denver Thunder player/coach Paul Kitson, Baltimore and soccer go back a long way. All the way back to Baltimore's only professional indoor championship season.The season was 1983-84, the team was the Baltimore Blast, and the main attraction was superstar Stan Stamenkovic.But there on the wing was Kitson."I'll never forget the dance he used to do when he scored a goal," said Kitson's former Blast teammate and now Spirit midfielder Tim Wittman. "I can still see him doing his moonwalk."Kitson did a lot of moonwalking that season.

This is "Soccer Mom's Day," in the words of embattled Maryland Mania founder and president A. J. Ali, switching modes momentarily from crisis management to marketing.Tailoring Mother's Day to your business is fun, of course. And Ali said mothers attending the Mania's home opener this afternoon will get flowers.But for those moms and others -- Ali is hoping for about 1,500 -- who buy tickets this afternoon, not to mention Mania players, there can't help but be questions about what will happen on the field.

After his last three-point goal, Blast defender Ronnie Simmons pumped his fists, bear-hugged anyone near him, and most importantly, rejuvenated a home crowd that watched its team go scoreless in the first half. One rocket-shot off his leg against Philadelphia on Saturday cut the KiXX lead in half and gave Simmons a career high seven three-point goals. Simmons, 35, leads the Blast in three-pointers this season, many of which have the same effect as in basketball -- a sudden momentum switch, similar to the one that occurred Saturday.

Paul Kitson, one of the more popular players from the Blast's indoor soccer glory days of the early 1980s, died yesterday morning in a Toronto hospital, one day after collapsing while coaching his youth soccer team. No cause of death was known, and an autopsy was scheduled, a Blast spokesman said last night. The spokesman also said Kitson had not had any known health problems recently. Kitson, 49, played on the 1983-84 Major Indoor Soccer League championship team and was known for the pet snake that he often had draped around his neck.

Opponent: Montreal ImpactSite: Molson Centre, MontrealTime: 4: 05 p.m.Radio: WCBM (680 AM)Outlook: The Spirit has lost six in a row, and the only way out of the tailspin appears to be the conclusion of the regular season after four more games. The Impact, completing a three-game weekend, has played well under new coach Paul Kitson, defeating St. Louis twice and Milwaukee while going 7-2. The Spirit, 1-17 on the road, led Montreal 9-0 two weeks ago in Baltimore but ended up losing, 17-13.Pub Date: 3/15/98

After his last three-point goal, Blast defender Ronnie Simmons pumped his fists, bear-hugged anyone near him, and most importantly, rejuvenated a home crowd that watched its team go scoreless in the first half. One rocket-shot off his leg against Philadelphia on Saturday cut the KiXX lead in half and gave Simmons a career high seven three-point goals. Simmons, 35, leads the Blast in three-pointers this season, many of which have the same effect as in basketball -- a sudden momentum switch, similar to the one that occurred Saturday.

Opponent: Hampton Roads MarinersSite: Virginia Beach, Va.Time: 7: 30 p.m.Outlook: After five straight home games in May, each with a different mix of starters, the Mania plays its second A-League road match. Coach Paul Kitson said the 10-hour, round-trip bus ride could help the chemistry of his 0-5 team, which has started scoring, but still is last in the eight-team Atlantic Division. Sixth-place Hampton Roads is 2-3.Pub Date: 5/29/99

The Maryland Mania finally broke into the scoring column last night at UMBC Stadium, but still lost its fourth consecutive A-League game, 2-1, falling short in a shootout against the Atlanta Silverbacks.Atlanta trailed for much of the game but after tying the score at 1 in the 81st minute, controlled the rest of play, including a scoreless, 15-minute sudden-death overtime, and took the shootout, 3-1.The first goal in Mania history -- breaking the team's 303-minute scoring drought -- came in the 23rd minute from its first signee, Columbia's Todd Haskins, a midfielder who banged a deflected pass from forward Lloyd Barker into the lower-right corner from 8 yards.

The inability to put away good scoring opportunities plagued the Maryland Mania last night during its 1-0 loss to Lehigh Valley at UMBC Stadium before an announced crowd of 1,133.Mania coach Paul Kitson attributed the new A-League team's third straight loss -- and shutout -- to lack of concentration. "Some changes will be made if players can't get the job done," he said.Kitson was particularly upset about his attack's failure on a scramble inside the Steam's 6-yard box in the 28th minute.

Opponent: Hampton Roads MarinersSite: Virginia Beach, Va.Time: 7: 30 p.m.Outlook: After five straight home games in May, each with a different mix of starters, the Mania plays its second A-League road match. Coach Paul Kitson said the 10-hour, round-trip bus ride could help the chemistry of his 0-5 team, which has started scoring, but still is last in the eight-team Atlantic Division. Sixth-place Hampton Roads is 2-3.Pub Date: 5/29/99